Mobile Device Local Storage for Self-Help Account Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pre-paid mobile phone users face inconvenience and additional costs for service providers due to the need to call them to reactivate accounts or obtain service information after credit runs out or the contract period expires, as current systems lack local storage and self-help capabilities on mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device application and system that allows users to locally store and present wireless communication service account information, enabling users to view account details and add credit without contacting the service provider, even after service termination, by maintaining wireless application protocol connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pre-paid mobile phone users call service provider to reactivate accounts or obtain service information after credit runs out, then service provider can provide customer support, but user convenience deteriorates and service provider handling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile device stores service account information locally and provides self-service capabilities for viewing account details, checking service status, and managing pre-paid credit without requiring user contact with service provider, enabling users to independently manage their accounts
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads and stores service account information, service plans, and management capabilities in the mobile device before service termination occurs, allowing users to access and manage their accounts locally even after credit runs out or contract expires
2Ease of operation
If mobile device stores service account information locally, then user accessibility to account information improves, but device memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and stores only the essential service account information needed for user management (account status, service plan details, credit balances) rather than all possible data, minimizing memory requirements while maintaining functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The stored service account information serves multiple functions including viewing account details, checking service status, managing pre-paid credit, and maintaining connectivity after termination, maximizing utility from limited stored data
3Adaptability or versatility
If mobile device maintains wireless application protocol connectivity after service termination, then user ability to add credit and manage accounts improves, but network resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains wireless application protocol connectivity in a ready state after service termination, allowing users to quickly add credit or manage accounts without requiring full service reactivation, enabling flexible post-termination account management
Solution Approach 2:
The connectivity state is dynamically adjusted based on user needs - maintaining minimal connectivity for account management operations while allowing full service functionality to be activated when credit is added or account status changes
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device is disclosed. The mobile device comprises a display, a memory, and an application. The memory contains wireless communication service account information comprising at least one of an identification of a service plan, a terms of the service plan, a date of the service plan, a current count of consumed service minutes, a current count of consumed text messages, a current count of unused service minutes, a current count of unused text messages, and a record of a plurality of most recent communication sessions. The application, when executed on the mobile device, receives updates of the wireless communication service account information and writes the updated wireless communication service account information to the memory. The application, when selected by an input, also presents at least some of the wireless communication service account information on the display.